NE Florida News

U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean of Florida's 4th District expressed his support for the recently passed H.R. 5009, known as the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. After voting in favor, Bean stated: “I was proud to support this year’s NDAA which refocuses the military on its core mission of defending our nation, supports operations along our southern border, and puts an end to divisive ideological policies that have undermined recruitment, retention, and the morale of our military.”

The legislation is notable for providing a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% pay increase for other personnel. It also introduces quality-of-life enhancements such as allowing service members to access certain specialty healthcare services without needing Tricare referrals and ensuring competitive pay for on-base childcare workers compared to the private sector.

Further measures in the bill require all Department of Defense components to conduct annual independent audits, projected to save taxpayers $31 billion by eliminating inefficient programs and outdated systems within Pentagon bureaucracy.

Bean emphasized his commitment to national interests: “I will always defend our national interests because the American people deserve a military that doesn’t cater to any credo other than America First.”

The NDAA is an annual legislative measure that shapes policy and organization within U.S. defense agencies while directing military funding priorities through Congress's guidance. This year's act also addresses issues like Chinese espionage prevention, expanded U.S.-Israel military cooperation, increased Indo-Pacific defense funding, merit-based promotions, contracting restrictions with firms blacklisting conservative news sources, abolition of DEI bureaucracy, permanent bans on transgender medical treatment for minors, and countering antisemitism by regulating sales at Department of Defense outlets.